Homeserve Novice Stakes

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 2m 10.99s

(5)

Plantadream

Age: 4| Weight: 9-7| J: Kieren Fox| T: J R Best

50/1

Newcomer by Planteur; dam lightly-raced half-sister to useful winner up to 1m2f Goodwood Mirage. Makes a belated debut against some useful sort from major yards; would be a surprise winner in this sphere first time out.

Form:

(3)

Diaboleo¹³⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: R Kingscote| T: Ian Williams

12/1

Showed some promise in a couple of starts in France 1m (AW), 1m4f (turf, good) both at Chantilly for Freddie Head earlier this year. Cost €35,000 from that stable in July; first run for a yard that do well with their imports; worth a market check.

Form: 36

(4)

Ho Whole Dream¹³

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: G C O'Neill⁽⁵⁾| T: M & D Easterby

100/1

Offered little when a 100-1 chance on his Doncaster debut (1m2f, good/firm) in March before being given a five month break. Showed a little more on the AW over a similar trip last time; looks the sort for handicaps once he has a mark.

Form: 07

(6)

Invictus Spirit⁴²

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: F Norton| T: Sir Michael Stoute| BF

3/1

Bred to be smart, looked the part on debut at Windsor (1m2f) when given a considerate introduction (fourth/fifth win since) finished 2½L behind Two Bids. Failed to build on that promise over 1m4f last time; too early to write off yet, back in trip.

Form: 34

(1)

Mayne²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: David Probert| T: A M Balding| BF

5/2

First try on turf having built on his debut promise at Kempton (1m) last time without justifying the strong support in the market he was given. Steps up a further 2f in trip (pedigree suggests it will suit); respected from a yard that do well here.

Form: 62

(2)

Two Bids³⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 9-1| J: P Hanagan| T: W J Haggas| OR: 80| BF

1/1

Well found in the market on all his starts, had the edge in experience when finishing just ahead of Invictus Spirit at Windsor. Beaten last time at Ripon (1m4f) when odds-on favourite under a positive ride (did too much); this trip to suit better.

Form: 323

Forecasts

Two Bids (1/1), Mayne (5/2), Invictus Spirit (3/1), Diaboleo (12/1), Plantadream (50/1), Ho Whole Dream (100/1)

If the market doesn’t signal any positive intent for French import Diaboleo who has joined Ian Williams yard then this can be boiled down to three protagonists. Invictus Spirit and TWO BIDS have past history having met at Windsor with the latter coming out on top although he did have experience on his side and it could well be close between the pair again. Since then the Haggas representative has been tried over further but he pulled too hard to get home; a positive ride around here over shorter may be the key to him. Mayne has to enter the equation given how well his yard do at this venue but it remains to be seen how well he acts on turf having had two AW starts so far.